Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: Could DeAri Todd break out in 2018?

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Mark Dantonio, head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, talks to a player on the sidelines during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Spartan Stadium on September 24, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Mark Dantonio, head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, talks to a player on the sidelines during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Spartan Stadium on September 24, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

With a host of breakout candidates on Michigan State football’s roster just 92 days away from kickoff, could No. 92 DeAri Todd lead the way?

There are just 92 days until the start of Michigan State’s 2018 season. To commemorate that number, we take a look at No. 92 DeAri Todd and his potential for the upcoming season.

Must Read: MSU Football: Post-spring game-by-game predictions

Once a Boston College commit, DeAri Todd received an offer he just couldn’t refuse. Michigan State came calling for the three-star defensive end from Lorain, Ohio, and he answered with a de-commitment from the Eagles and a subsequent pledge to the Spartans.

Michigan State had been known for churning out defensive talent and Todd wanted to join the tradition. Despite coming off a 3-9 season, he placed his trust in Mark Dantonio, and wasn’t let down. The Spartans rebounded in 2017 with a 10-3 campaign and Todd was one of the scout team stars during the impressive season.

Coaches and teammates raved about him stepping up and there’s a sense of intrigue surrounding him heading into his redshirt freshman year.

Todd wasn’t the most highly-touted prospect in the 2017 recruiting class, but he’s fitting in well in East Lansing and the coaching he’s getting on that defensive line may just turn him into a breakout candidate in 2018.

Standing 6-4 and weighing in at 245 pounds, he has decent size to contribute at the end spot, but could also play a little on the interior. He needs to showcase patience on the end and be able to diagnose those runs and passes quickly in order to break that playing rotation from day one.

Next: MSU football's top 2019 NFL draft prospects

There is excitement surrounding Todd and with Lashawn Paulino-Bell transferring and little depth on the outside, we could see him step up and become an instant contributor as a redshirt freshman.

Home/Spartans Football